A look at Gerry Goffin's key songs

Mesfin Fekadu AP Music Writer

Posted:
06/19/2014 06:06:23 PM EDT

Click photo to enlarge

This undated image released by The O and M Company shows lyricist Gerry Goffin at the opening night of "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical," in New York. Goffin, ex-husband of Carole King, died Wednesday, June 18, 2014, at his home in Los Angeles. He was 75. Goffin, who married King in 1959 while both were in their teens, penned more than 50 top 40 hits, including "Pleasant Valley Sunday" for the Monkees, "Crying in the Rain" by the Everly Brothers, ?Some King of Wonderful? for the Drifters and "Take Good Care of My Baby" by Bobby Vee. The couple divorced in 1968 but Goffin kept writing hits, including "Savin' All My Love for You" for Whitney Houston. (AP Photo/The O and M Company, Bruce Glikas)

NEW YORK (AP) — Gerry Goffin might have been a chemist, but when it came to music, he was a scientist of songwriting.

Goffin began his songwriting career with ex-wife Carole King, who he met at Queens College, where he studied chemistry. The duo went on to craft songs that have become American classics, from "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" to "The Loco-Motion."

And without King, Goffin was still a powerhouse: He collaborated with the likes of Michael Masser and Barry Goldberg to write hits including the Oscar-nominated "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)," recorded by Diana Ross, and Whitney Houston's "Saving All My Love for You," which won the late icon her first Grammy Award.

Goffin died Thursday at his home in Los Angeles at age 75. Here's a look at his key songs, written with King and without her.

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